Prologue

"You look a bit thinner than the last time I saw you. Do you want me to have your ring adjusted?" he asked with his voice laced with plain seriousness while eyeing my ring finger.

Pasimple kong ibinaba ang kamay ko at agad umiling. "Hindi na, nasabit lang siguro kaya nahulog," I answered as I shift my gaze from him to my daughter to avoid his heavy stares.

I gave off a sigh of relief when he didn't ask more about the topic. Saglit akong lumingon sa salaming nasa gilid para tingnan ang repleksyon ko. I did lose some weight because of stress, kung hindi pa ako paalalahanan ni Yvette ay makalilimutan ko ng kumain. And Asher hates that so much, ewan ko ba riyan kung bakit, as if mamamatay naman ako kapag nag-lose ako nang kaunti. But what do I expect? He is a health freak, a severe case I must say.

"What would you like to have, baby?" nakangiting tanong niya kay A3.

Umakto namang nagbabasa ng Menu ang A3 ko na akala mo naiintindihan niya talaga ang mga nakasulat doon. Napapanguso pa siya kaya natatawang pinagmasdan siya ni Asher.

I can't help but smile at how cute they are. They are my life now, the sole reason why I'm still here... still breathing.

Bumuntong hininga ang anak ko at nakangiwing ibinaba ang menu. "Just order for me, Papa. My head is aching with all the weird names that are written here," napapangusong sabi niya at maarteng sumintido pa.

Natawa kaming pareho ni Asher sa kadaldalan niya, para siyang matanda kung magsalita. Ganyan siguro talaga kapag ang mga oldies ang laging kalaro.

Asher took the menu and lovingly patted A3's head. "Okay, miss madame, got it," natatawang sagot niya bago ako lingunin.

"How about you?" baling niya sa'kin.

Ibinaba ko muna ang menu bago sumagot, "I'll have vegetable salad and banana shake."

Asher took care of our orders and after waiting for a few minutes, the waiter came with our food.

Hindi maalis ang ngiti ni A3 habang nakikipag-usap sa Papa niya. And as usual, A3 being A3 ay bumabangka siya sa kuwentuhan.

"Papa, will you stay in our house or you will go back to Korea?" nakangusong tanong niya. "Why do you go there so often po ba e your home is here naman?" nanenermon ang tonong dagdag pa niya.

Pasimple akong ngumiti. He avoids that question when I'm the one asking him, let's see if you can escape the little A3's interrogation.

Hindi pa nakasasagot si Asher ay nagbato na naman siya ng panibagong tanong. Pumikit-pikit pa ito, alam na alam ang kahinaan ng papa niya. "Can't you stay home na lang po? Hmm? Play with me na lang po, please?" naka-pout ang ngusong may dusing ng chocolate na tanong pa niya.

Nakahalukipkip na sumandal ako at tahimik na pinagmasdan sila. I know Asher can't say no to A3, pero natatawa pa rin ako tuwing ganyan ang usapan nila. A3 has the upper hand of the house, everyone is swept off of their feet once my daughter started sweet-talking them, and this guy is not an exemption. Her cuteness is undeniable that even the mightly and strict Asher can't resist her charms.

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Asher, halatang suko na. "Yes, cariño, I won't leave anymore. I'll stay with you and your Mom so we could play the whole day," malambing na sagot niya at saka pinunasan ng tissue ang madungis na nguso ni A3.

The conversation between them went on, from A3's daily activities up to the bedtime stories I read for her, the typical child talks. Napaka-genuine ng mga sagot at reaksyon ni Asher sa bawat kuwento ni A3, para bang namamangha pa rin siya tuwing tinitingnan ang mukha nito. I can't blame him though, I also still get facinated whenever I look at her.

"Mommy, I need to pee." Natigil ako sa pagkain nang kumapit si A3 sa braso ko.

"You can go by yourself na, right?" tanong ko at inipit ang takas na buhok sa likod ng tainga niya.

Nakangiting tumango siya at maingat na bumaba sa upuan niya.

"Wash your hands ha?" bilin ko pa bago siya tumatalon-talong lumakad palayo.

Wala pang ilang segundo ang lumipas ay nagsalita si Asher, "I'll come with her, baka maligaw siya." Napaangat ako ng tingin nang tumayo rin siya para sundan si A3.

Inilingan ko siya. He's babying A3 again, hobby na niya yata 'yon.

"She knows the way, let her be," I tried to stop him.

"I'll just wait for her outside," pamimilit pa niya bago tuluyang tumalikod, hindi talaga nagpapigil pa.

Naiiling na umayos na lang ako ng upo at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain ko. Sa kaniya yata nagmana ng kakulitan si A3 kaya hindi na ako umalma. I won't win din naman.

If I'm protective, 'mas' pa siya sa mas. But I can't really blame him though, he's been with us from my pregnancy up until today. He witnessed how my baby A3 grew up to the lovely little girl that she is right now. He is the father figure that she looks up to. For my A3, he's like her real father... maybe not by blood, but by bond.

Naputol ang malalim na pag-iisip ko nang bumukas ang pinto ng restaurant at iniluwa ang isang napakapamilyar na pigura. My body immediately reacted with just the mere sight of him. I felt my chest tighten as my heart started to pound crazily. I unconciously touched my chest and tried thinking of a way to escape.

My head is in turmoil and my thoughts are all over the place. But the first thing that came to my mind is my daughter, A3. My 5 years of keeping her existence discreet will go down the drain if they happen to see her now. No, I can't let that happen.

Despite the dizziness I feel because of the sudden shifting of emotions, I was able to calm myself bit by bit. It's not like I did something illegal, right?

With my shaking hands, I managed to reach for my bag to search for my phone. I was fidgeting on my ring as I dial for my emergency contact. I internally praised all the gods and goddesses when Asher picked up his phone with just three rings.

"Yes, sweetheart? Ma-"

"Asher please, bring A3 out of this place. Bring her home now," nanginginig ang boses na utos ko.

"Why? What about you?" taranta ring sagot niya.

I faced the glass wall and slouched a bit to make my presence unnoticeable. Of all places, why here? What kind of a romance story cliche is this?

"Just do as I say! Please! I can handle myself, just please bring her home right now." Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang sagot niya at pinatay ko na ang tawag.

I immediately called the waiter for our bill, bawat pagpatak ng segundo ay pabigat nang pabigat ang nararamdman ko kaya nang dumating ang waiter kasama ang bill namin ay naglapag na ako ng cash sa ibabaw ng table. Wala akong inaksayang panahon at dali-dali kong kinuha ang handbag ko at naglakad palabas ng lugar na iyon.

I have to move quickly dahil malapit ang table namin sa entrance ng resto, kaunting lingon lang at magkikita at magkikita kami.

"Amyrtelle, anak?"

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Nanlamig ang parehong kamay at paa ko, but I managed to compose myself.

Kagat ang labing napapikit ako. 'How can she possibly recognize me?' bulong ko sa aking isipan.

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon at alanganing ngumiti. It was really them... my bittersweet past. Tito Lincoln has his arms wrapped around Tita Nica's waist. Tita was obviously shocked, I mean who wouldn't be when you saw a ghost from the past, right?

My eyes nervously wandered to the couple behind them which is none other than Vince and the girl he told me to not be worried about. And as if the shaky feeling I'm struggling to tame was not enough, I felt a passing pain cut through my chest, but I shrugged it off and plastered a pretentious smile.

I guess we were all able to walk forward...

Muli kong ibinalik ang aking tingin kay Tita. "Tita Nica!" nakangiting bati ko at mahigpit na niyakap siya. I activated the best actress in me and tried my very best to pretend that I'm surprised by their presence.

I guess she's in a great shock dahil kahit nakahiwalay na ako sa yakap ay tulala pa rin siya. Tito Lincoln on the other hand awkwardly tapped my shoulder as a greeting.

Now that I'm looking at them closely, I can clearly see how their faces did not change a bit for the past 5 years. Para silang mga bampira, hindi tumatanda.

"How have you been, hija? It's been so long since I last saw you! I missed you a lot! As in a lot, hija!" Niyakap niya akong muli nang makabawi na mula sa pagkagulat.

I hugged her back feeling the warmth of her embrace. "I missed you too, Tita," I said sincerely.

"You have a lot to make kwento to me ha," bulong niya. Nang kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa'kin ay lumingon ito kila Vince at maasim ang mukhang humarap muli sa'kin.

"Oh, by the way, Amyrtelle anak. This is Chiselle, Chiselle, this is Amyrtelle Krystallia Gimena my dearest daughter by heart," proud na nakangiting pagpapakilala ni Tita.

"I bet you know her?" makahulugang tanong ni Tita.

Hilaw akong ngumiti at tinanggap ang nakalahad na kamay ni Chiselle. She smiled sweetly, the same smile that she always grace me before.

I felt a familiar piercing gaze on me, but I tried my best not to have my gaze across his because my insides are already shaking. Who would have thought that he would still have this effect on me even after those 5 long years?

"It's nice seeing you again, Tita, Tito and... uhm you Vince and Chiselle, but I really need to go. May meeting po ako somewhere in the area." Pagtatangka kong tumakas sa kanila.

Lumungkot ang mukha ni Tita, animo ayaw akong pakawalan. She pulled me on another hug and whispered something inaudible, "I'll be waiting for you, take back your place."

I wasn't able to hear what she murmured but I simply smiled at her and kissed her cheeks.

"Do you really have to go?" pumipikit-pikit na tanong niya, nagpapa-cute dahil alam niyang hindi ko siya kayang tiisin.

I can't help but smile, kuhang-kuha ni A3 ang ugali niyang 'yan.

"Honey, let her go. Mukhang may importante pa siyang pupuntahan," singit na ni Tito dahil sa higpit ng hawak ni Tita sa kamay ko, mukhang wala yata talaga siyang balak na pakawalan ako.

Siniko siya ni Tita at marahang hinaplos ang pisnge ko.

"It makes me so sad that I have to let you go again," napapabuntong hiningang aniya.

And it also makes me sad that I also have to hide from you... in another lifetime Tita. When our fates are not this messy.

"Contact me soon," makahulugang pahabol niya.

Nakangiting tumango ako kahit wala naman talaga akong balak makipag-ugnayang muli sa kahit na sino sa kanila. Tatalikod na sana ako nang mayroon akong maalala.

"And by the way, it's Amyrtelle Krystallia Lucado na po." I smiled and turned to confidently walk away from them.

I'm not a Gimena anymore.

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